To not exercise

[Katywester]

I was reading another thread about a woman who didn't enjoy showering and the questions asking her 'don't you exercise' surprised me as if it was a given that everyone exercised!
Am I the minority mum of three full time work etc that just can't fit in exercise other than a quick dog walk every other day?

It's possible on a bike or rowing, I have a spinal cord injury that would make running dangerous and I don't get to a pool often so they are my options.

HITT training is probably a great way to get into zone 5

Possibly, but I think most people are saying it’s really not wise or aspirational for most people. We really don’t need to push our heart rate to 90-100% of its capacity.

For health it’s wise to briefly exercise in zone 5 unless your GP advises otherwise or there are known health issues.

But people were generally much more active in their daily lives 40 years ago. Most of us spend our working hours stuck on screens so it matters if that’s how we spend all our leisure hours too.

Absolutely.

I also have a spinal issue. I can't do anything that involves jumping or sudden movements. I tried a burpee and it was a bad idea! I would like to do more cardio but genuinely don't know how. I can't go swimming as the pool isn't open early enough. I don't have room for a bike or rowing machine. I can cycle on the school run but not quick enough to get my heart rate high.

would kettle bell swings work?

I'm not sure. I have to be so so careful with my lower back.

@Tiebiter Do you have any hills where you live? Fast walking uphill will get the heart rate quite high. Might or might not tip into Zone 5 depending on how fit you are to start with.

Me too! I'll make this my last post about me though.
Just back from a glorious 7 mile run - 83% in zone 3.

I've been running since for ever - used to glance at the kitchen clock as I left the house and then see what time I got back. No gadgets at all. How things have changed!

I lied...this is my last post.
I got into zone 5!
I've got rid of some stress I was under, am sleeping better and felt great.
6.7% of my 5 mile run was in zone 5 - it didn't feel like it though. It felt like a great pace, but not like I was pushing myself. Funny old thing the body!

I agree. Even housework, hoovering, running up/down stairs sorting the laundry is all exercise, as is walking the dog, taking the stairs at work instead of the lift, moving around the office more rather than piling up things like copying/filing and doing in bulk etc. And yes, a standing desk makes a big difference. Exercise doesn't have to mean formal jogging or going to the gym. And as said above, even just dancing around the house listening to music whilst waiting for the oven to heat up or waiting for the washing machine to finish is still exercise. Perhaps we need to talk about "being active" rather than exercising?

I know that my health/fitness deteriorated massively in a few short years when I had a long car commute to work and found myself sat at my work desk for hours every day due to the pressure of work meaning I had no time during the working day to be active. I put on several stones in weight and contracted high blood pressure, T2 diabetes, etc.

I finally thought enough was enough and changed employer to one much closer to home where my drive was a lot shorter and where I could have a walk at lunchtime and park a bit further away so a walk to/from work daily. I then went self employed and got an office around a mile from home so I could walk to/from work daily, added to a standing desk, etc. I lost all the weight, and more, reversed T2 diabetes and now have normal blood pressure. All that due to just being more active on a daily basis, not going to the gym or going jogging etc - just walking/standing more.

I agree with this. If you make something a priority, you'll make time for it.

Only a portion of my friends exercise. We are in our 40s & 50s & 60s. So far two of the non exercisers have had hip replacements and another diagnosed with low bone density.

I've got a relative that's had a hip replacement in mid-50s, and by late 50s is getting several kinds of joint and muscular issues.

The hip recovery was slow for the young age that they were at.

Not inactive, lots of gentle walking and DIY. The sport they do is pretty genteel with a limited, repetitive range of motion. They think they do a lot, but none of it consistently uses the whole body, builds/ retains muscle/ bone density, or really gets the heart rate up. It's the kind of activity level that will keep you alive, but not delay physical aging.

The consultant hasn't told them to add exercise to their life so they won't. They are the type to do the physio that's been set. Unless a doctor tells them that they need to build muscle and vary their movement they won't, and it's sad seeing someone with the gene potential for a long life potentially facing decades of being painfully restricted by their muscular/ skeletal system because they don't want to make changes that could prevent or at least postpone physical decline (unless the doctor tells them to).

I've already seen other relatives going through 20-30 years of painfully living through the effects of low bone and muscle density.

A pair of family siblings close in age went for Dexa scans and the older sibling in their 50s had significantly better bone density and muscle mass than the younger; that was the one who'd been down the gym for years doing things like kettlebell classes.

They went for scans following the difficulties that their parent was having with osteoarthritis.

Or there could be another parent at home. Always the assumption that mum has to do it.